(PPF/IFEX) – On 23 July 2005, unknown persons threw three homemade bombs into the home of Khursheed Ahmed, bureau chief of the daily “Khabrain” in the city of Gilgit, capital of Pakistan’s Northern Areas. Ahmed is also president of the Gilgit Press Club. Two of the three bombs detonated while the third did not explode. […]
(PPF/IFEX) – On 23 July 2005, unknown persons threw three homemade bombs into the home of Khursheed Ahmed, bureau chief of the daily “Khabrain” in the city of Gilgit, capital of Pakistan’s Northern Areas. Ahmed is also president of the Gilgit Press Club. Two of the three bombs detonated while the third did not explode. The blasts caused damage to the roof of the home and smashed a toilet, but caused no injuries to the seven persons in the house. The attackers fled the scene under the cover of darkness.
Press reports quoting Ahmed said the attack may be the result of his support for the administration’s decision to close the weekly publications “K-2”, “Azan”, “Naqara”, “Wadi” and others for publishing provocative statements of religious factions.
Ahmed said he had no personal enmity but added that he had strongly opposed a proposed dialogue between the local administration and members of banned sectarian parties in Gilgit, in connection with the week-long deteriorating law and order situation in the city.
“Somebody present at the meeting must have conveyed my views to the fanatics and [the attack] might be in reprisal,” Ahmed speculated. He said the chief secretary of the Northern Areas, Nadeem Manzoor, had assured him that the scope of the investigation would be extended to include those present at the meeting.
This was the second time Ahmed’s house was targeted. On 3 March, unidentified persons threw a similar homemade bomb into his home, causing loss of property (see IFEX alert of 7 March 2005).
The general secretary of the Gilgit Press Club, Manzar Shigri, condemned the attack and dubbed it a “terror attempt by a few fanatics.” The president of the Gilgit Union of Journalists, Imtiaz Ali Taj, said his group had previously warned security officials of threats to journalists, but no concrete steps were taken to safeguard the lives and property of journalists working in the area. He condemned the attack and demanded a thorough inquiry into the matter.
Police are investigating the case and have arrested several persons.